Based on a Navy SEAL’s inspiring graduation speech, this #1 New York Times bestseller of powerful life lessons “should be read by every leader in America” (Wall Street Journal).
If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.
On May 17, 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven addressed the graduating class of the University of Texas at Austin on their Commencement day. Taking inspiration from the university’s slogan, “What starts here changes the world,” he shared the ten principles he learned during Navy Seal training that helped him overcome challenges not only in his training and long Naval career, but also throughout his life; and he explained how anyone can use these basic lessons to change themselves-and the world-for the better.
Admiral McRaven’s original speech went viral with over 10 million views. Building on the core tenets laid out in his speech, McRaven now recounts tales from his own life and from those of people he encountered during his military service who dealt with hardship and made tough decisions with determination, compassion, honor, and courage. Told with great humility and optimism, this timeless book provides simple wisdom, practical advice, and words of encouragement that will inspire readers to achieve more, even in life’s darkest moments.
“Powerful.” –USA Today
“Full of captivating personal anecdotes from inside the national security vault.” –Washington Post
“Superb, smart, and succinct.” –Forbes
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Continue the leadership journey with more bestselling guidance and wisdom from Admiral McRaven.
A clear-eyed treatise on the leadership qualities that separate the good from the truly great. A short, inspirational book about the qualities of true, everyday heroes. Remarkable, action-packed stories of bravery and heroism from an extraordinary career. Rise to the occasion in times of crisis, no matter the situation.
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Admiral William H. McRaven’s inspiring stories—for kids!
Skipper the seal becomes a Navy SEAL in this delightful picture book adaptation of Make Your Bed. Skipper the seal shows young readers what it means to be truly heroic in the picture book adaptation of The Hero Code.
Publisher : Grand Central Publishing
Publication date : April 4, 2017
Edition : 1st
Language : English
Print length : 144 pages
ISBN-10 : 1455570249
ISBN-13 : 978-1455570249
Item Weight : 2.31 pounds
Dimensions : 5.38 x 0.95 x 7.38 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #24 in Motivational Self-Help (Books) #25 in Success Self-Help #27 in Personal Transformation Self-Help
Customer Reviews: 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 48,697 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
T.G. Dubini –
A quick but important read for anyone who aspires to be a successful leader and team member
A simple book with a positive message on how to succeed and the worthy objective of leaving this planet a little better for having been here. I had the privilege of listening to Admiral McRaven address my son’s class at his Naval OCS graduation and commissioning more than a decade past. His advice to “make your bed” and more to that and other groups has been a good memory I’ve carried since and one I recommend to all, but especially to the next rank of young people about to embark on their life adventure.
Hazem –
A good easy read
I found this book to be an easy read. The chapters are concise and to the point, with engaging stories and valuable lessons. If you are on a long flight or want to read something valuable over the weekend, this is a great read.I am assuming many people are coming here from the graduation speech of the author, so you already know what this book is about.
Dennis –
An excellent book everyone should read!
While browsing YouTube one day, I came across Admiral William H. McRaven’s remarkable commencement address from 2014 at the University of Texas at Austin. Having taught at the university level for nearly 50 years, I have listened to many graduation speeches, but this one stood out as one of the most influential and eloquent I have ever heard. After learning more about him, I discovered he had written a book titled “Make Your Bed,” so I decided to buy a copy. In this book, which includes his motivational speech at the end, Admiral McRaven presents ten principles that serve as a roadmap for leading a productive life while facing and overcoming life’s many challenges.Each short chapter in this book tells a story illustrating a specific characteristic or life trait the author aims to instill in the reader. The author draws on examples from his 37 years as a Navy SEAL, particularly his six months of intensive training at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado in California, to describe how he learned and applied these principles throughout his naval career. To dispel the notion that one must serve in the armed forces to benefit from these principles, Admiral McRaven emphasizes, “I have a few suggestions that may help you on your way to a better world. While these lessons were learned during my time in the military, I assure you it matters not whether you ever served a day in uniform.”This short book is powerful and thought-provoking. It was written by someone who has navigated many challenges in life, consistently finding ways to overcome obstacles and move forward. It’s a book you can keep close and return to often. You may find yourself reading specific chapters whenever you seek inspiration or guidance. My copy always remains on my desk.In summary, this book is one that everyone should buy and read. The world would be a better place if everyone lived by the standards and guidance offered in this book.
Rose Marie Toubes –
My College Composition Students Loved This Book; Wrote Excellent Papers Inspired By It
Made a great final project book in my college composition class. Students loved the book’s one-hour reading time and were able to integrate their own life experiences with Admiral McRaven’s lessons. Gave them a manageable book to demonstrate their MLA in-text citation technique. Everyone could relate to the life lessons. I required my students to discuss three of them in combination with other material we examined in class. We combined this book with a series of introspective lessons by Richard J. Light, who teaches in the Graduate School of Education at Harvard University. Look up “How to Live Wisely” from the New York Times online. The hard copy of the article was published in the Education Life tabloid of the Sunday New York Times in the summer of 2015. I also invited a professor colleague to come in to my class and talk about McRaven’s book from his perspective — so my students had a book source, an online newspaper source and a primary source in their final paper with the McRaven book as the centerpiece of the project.I, personally, find the extreme examples of the Navy SEAL training comparisons and the name-dropping of Saddam Hussein, whom McRaven met briefly, too hard to apply to my own life. I wanted to have the students take on McRaven and argue with some of his points, but most enjoyed using his life lessons as a basis for seeing comparisons to their own life choices. I also wanted more vivid detail from McRaven in each chapter. I do not necessarily agree with some of his simplistic points being necessarily the best choices for everyone.The chapters seemed too short and underdeveloped for my taste, but my students loved the capsule lessons.The book has been sold out everywhere, and I had to drive to two bookstores clear across the state of Iowa and long-distance order from Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon, to get enough copies for my class. This was a somewhat last-minute decision to use this book. I just feel really happy today, though, because the students did so well with their papers from this material. 🙂
Bookworm –
Perhaps written for a younger audience.
Melvin –
I’m honored to read this book! Hats off and big respect to all soldiers. Really great book by William H. McRaven
Vineet Demla –
The book is structured around ten key principles that Admiral McRaven learned during his training and career. Each chapter starts with an engaging anecdote from his life, illustrating a specific lesson such as the importance of starting your day with a simple task (like making your bed), embracing failure, and never giving up. These stories are not only captivating but also convey profound wisdom in a relatable way.What makes this book stand out is its practicality. The lessons are straightforward, actionable, and applicable to anyone, regardless of their background. Admiral McRaven’s writing is clear and motivational, without being overly sentimental or preachy.One of the most compelling aspects of “Make Your Bed” is its underlying message of resilience and hope. It encourages readers to persevere through hardships and to find strength in small victories. The book’s brevity is another advantage, making it a quick yet profound read that can be revisited whenever you need a boost of motivation.Pros:• Practical, actionable advice• Engaging and inspiring anecdotes• Clear and concise writing• Universal applicability of lessonsCons:• Some may find it too brief and wanting more depthOverall, “Make Your Bed” is a powerful little book that offers timeless wisdom and encouragement to face life’s challenges head-on. It’s a great read for anyone looking for a dose of inspiration and practical advice to improve their life💯
Antonio Bruno –
“Make Your Bed” è un libro che nasce dal celebre discorso dell’Ammiraglio McRaven, diventato virale sui social grazie al suo messaggio potente e ispirante. Quello che in un primo momento sembrava essere un semplice consiglio su come affrontare le sfide della vita, si trasforma in una riflessione profonda sulla disciplina, la resilienza e il potere dei piccoli gesti quotidiani.Il libro è un concentrato di motivazione, scritto in un linguaggio semplice e diretto, che rende le sue lezioni accessibili a tutti, anche a chi non ha una formazione militare o esperienze di vita particolarmente dure. La sua scrittura lineare e chiara, in particolare in questa versione originale in inglese, permette di entrare subito nel vivo dei concetti senza ostacoli linguistici. La lettura è fluida e stimolante, con un ritmo che spinge a proseguire, pagina dopo pagina.L’autore, attraverso le sue esperienze personali, racconta come piccoli cambiamenti nella nostra routine quotidiana possano avere un impatto enorme sul miglioramento della nostra vita. Un esempio pratico e simbolico è il semplice atto di rifare il letto ogni mattina, un gesto che può sembrare insignificante, ma che, secondo l’autore, incarna il principio fondamentale di iniziare la giornata con un’azione positiva e sotto il nostro controllo. Ogni capitolo si arricchisce di aneddoti ed esperienze che offrono lezioni di vita universali, applicabili a chiunque voglia migliorare se stesso, affrontare le difficoltà e crescere come persona.Il punto di forza del libro sta proprio nella sua capacità di rendere le lezioni di vita più profonde facilmente comprensibili e applicabili. Non offre soluzioni miracolose, ma piuttosto suggerisce una serie di atteggiamenti e azioni quotidiane che, se adottati con costanza, possono portare a un cambiamento significativo. Non importa quanto difficile possa sembrare un compito, ogni piccolo passo verso il miglioramento personale è un successo.”Make Your Bed” è un libro che va letto tutto d’un fiato, ma che soprattutto invita a riflettere e ad agire. Consigliatissimo!
Amazon Customer –
For everyone of all ages, a great book to help you seize life by the horns, no matter the situation, so you can handle anything and move forward. Great read!